The Saucony Triumph has been one of my go-to-running shoes for years. I qualified for (and ran) the Boston Marathon in a pair of Triumph 20. But when I heard the newest version of my beloved high-cushion trainer, the Saucony Triumph 22, was getting quite the update, I was nervous.
Despite my hesitation, about 5 minutes into my first run, my opinions began to change. After testing the shoe over about 30 miles, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Triumph 22 has retained its light and bouncy feel. Simultaneously, the new release has managed to increase its cushioning for a plusher feel.
After a couple of runs, I easily adjusted to the new model — and may have even come to prefer the Triumph 22 over the past versions that I loved. In fact, I’d go so far as to say: If I could only run in one shoe for everything ever again, it would be this one.
How I Tested
I wore the Saucony Triumph 22 shoe on a range of runs, walks, gym sessions, and days of walking to get a true idea of how it would perform for every activity. Over the course of five runs of various lengths — about 30 miles total — I tested it on track, treadmill, road, grass and cinder.
I was not able to test it in the rain, but I took a spray bottle to my feet and did notice that these shoes kept my feet dryer than the previous models which used a traditional mesh (they’re definitely not waterproof running shoes, though).
Specs
- Fit: The Triumphs 22 are slightly wider than previous models, particularly in the toe box, but don’t feel excessively roomy. I have a narrower foot but my heel felt snug and supported. They do run a bit big; I could’ve sized down, but I also didn’t feel like I was siding around in my normal size, even when running downhill.
- Comfort: The 22 are even more comfortable than the previous Triumph models. This shoe still feels quite responsive like its predecessors, but it’s also quite plush, verging on max cushion. The Triumph 22 is comfortable both under and over foot with room both vertically and width-wise in the upper; it doesn’t feel constricting even if your feet swell a bit.
- Upper Fit Security: For me, this shoe runs quite wide in the toe and a bit wider than previous models in the heel (though I do have a narrow foot). It feels secure in the midfoot as the laces let you snug it up to your desired fit. The upper is significantly more structured than that of the 20 and 21. This may have compromised some breathability but also gives it a more supportive feel without having as close of a fit.
- Upper Comfort: I never felt any discomfort on the tops and sides of my feet, even on long days out. The wider, slightly-looser fit gives your foot the space to swell and move as it needs without excessive pressure anywhere. I found it to be pretty breathable — not as much as a traditional mesh, though.
- Toe Box Comfort: Saucony made this shoe wider across the board, including the toe. This allows for a more natural foot spread and better stability as it gives you a larger landing surface.
- Heel Lock: This heel is structured and stable. Even if you slide your shoes on without untying them, you would be hard-pressed to affect the integrity of the heel. It is a bit less rigid at the top so it won’t put pressure on the achilles, but it takes a good deal of pressure to get the heel cup to budge when you squeeze it.
- Cushioning: The cushioning of this shoe is everything — the PWRRUN PB provides a delicious balance of cushion, propulsion, and durability that makes it the ideal do-it-all trainer. It is responsive enough that it won’t feel muddy at the end of a long run or race, and springy enough to keep your cadence up in speedwork, too. I’ve found that I get the most mileage out of the Triumph midsole than any other shoe.
- Midsole Stability: This is a neutral shoe so it provides no motion control for overpronators. But it is quite stable, with a wide, flared base in the toe, heel, and throughout the midsole.
- Ride Responsiveness: Among high-cushion training shoes, the Triumph models are one of the most responsive on the market. Despite having more millimeters to the midsole, the Triumph 22 has retained a very responsive feel, akin to defying gravity, as one reviewer put it.
- Transition Quality: The Triumph doesn’t have a huge swoop in the heel and toe, making it great for someone who doesn’t like the Hoka meta-rocker. In a forced heel strike, I noticed that the Triumph 22 did encourage me to roll through the foot. The 22 has a slightly higher heel cut-up than the 21 which prevents scuffing and forces a roll-through action.
- Traction: Sadly, the outsole has not only lost grip but also thickness. This can seriously affect the longevity of your shoe. This shoe is lighter, but I would rather have the extra ounce and get a grippier, longer-lasting outsole. Since it is so pared down, I am also worried about it becoming slippery on anything that is not flat and dry well before the massive insole is dead.
- Durability: Earning a 5 out of 5, the midsole retains the integrity of the foam even after hundreds of miles while the new-and-improved upper is thicker and less pliable to withstand more wear and tear. The outsole, however, doesn’t seem thick or durable enough to last as long as the midsole and upper and the tread will be the first to go.
- Breathability: The upper is not as breathable as the 21 which used a traditional mesh, but the 22 is adequately breathable for most runners.
- Weight: High cushion shoes are often bulky and heavy, but the Triumph’s responsive midsole counteracts the weight, making it feel pretty light despite being 8.8 ounces for women’s and 10.1 ounces for men’s.
- Design/Aesthetics: The design is not ugly, but it’s not stand-out. I’m not embarrassed to wear them in public, but they do definitely have a bulkier appearance.
- Innovation: Without much new or exciting innovation in this shoe, one uncommon upgrade is Saucony expanded the midsole around the midfoot for the 22. While many shoes flare at the toe and heel, the 22’s mid-foot is close-cut to the foot. Those with collapsed arches won’t like this, but by expanding the midsole at the midfoot, you get more stability, less chance of rolling off the side, and a better fit for wider feet.
- Versatility: Versatility is exactly why I love this shoe so dearly. It is springy enough for speed work, cushioned enough for long runs, and stable enough for everyday wear. Of course, it’s no carbon-plated shoe, but the highly-responsive foam may give you the spring you need.
Design and Aesthetics
We have a lot of great-looking sneakers available these days. Saucony is somewhat known for their boat-like shoe appearance and the design of the 22s is middling for me.
Aesthetically, the new Triumph 22 is alright. The new-and-improved upper gives the shoe a more modern look (plus the advantage of improving the structural integrity). The bulky midsole looks a bit orthopedic, but also aligned with so many chunky high-cushion trainers out there right now.
The color options range from neutral colors, light pastels, pops of colors for guys, and gender-neutral colors in the women’s options. The model I have is a lighter color and after a single use indoors, it was already showing dirt at the toe. This type of upper is also particularly tough to clean, so if you want a shoe that will hide dust and grime, you may want to opt for a darker color.
The biggest tech advancements made in this shoe is the additional cushion and width added to the midsole. It gives it a much more stable feel and helps to increase the overall shock absorption.
Testing Performance
I love the entire Triumph line. And while this version did have some changes made to it, I remain a loyal fan after testing it thoroughly.
The Triumph 22 midsole is bulky, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the shoe retained most of its responsiveness. I also found that this model filled my arch a bit better than the last two Triumphs.
The Triumph 22 has a thicker, sturdier, and altogether more supportive upper without feeling too tight on the feet. I do think that it lost a bit of breathability, but they didn’t feel sweltering during testing.
One of the things that I love so much about this shoe is how versatile it is. Because the foam is so responsive, it doesn’t feel muddy or slow during speedwork. More than any other shoe I’ve run in, I feel like my legs stay fresh, even at the end of a half marathon training long run.
I do have carbon-plated racers, but I still prefer to run a race in the Triumphs for any distance over 10 miles. The higher cushion gives me that spring without killing my shins and arches like a plated shoe can. That said, if you really want an edge on speed, you may still want a racing shoe.
My main complaints with the Triumph 22 are the durability of the tread and upper. While the upper is durable, it stains incredibly easily; when I attempted to clean mine, I couldn’t get the dirt all the way out. I was shocked at how quickly the shoe got dingy, even wearing indoors.
The outsole is also of concern. It’s not very thick, nor does it have particularly prominent lugs. This may be fine for a bit, but especially for those that run mainly on roads or happen to drag their feet, I think that it may wear out faster than the rest of the shoe.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Very high cushion
- Wide, supportive base
- Structured upper
- Responsive cushioning
Cons:
- Minimal tread and grip
- Heel may be too wide for a narrower foot
How the Shoes Stacks Up
I don’t think there is a perfect parallel shoe to the Triumph. But there are a couple that have a similar feel or features that are worth comparison.
The Adidas Ultraboost Light uses a similar midsole foam, both made from small foam beads that are incredibly bouncy and cushioned. However, the Boost Light foam is made from TPU and PWRRUN is PEBA, the latter of which is much more responsive and is often used in racing shoes. This is what gives the Triumph the versatility of being both incredibly cushioned and still speedy. In my opinion, the Triumph runs a bit better. The Ultraboosts can feel a bit boat-like especially since they don’t roll through as easily. Plus they come at a much higher price point at $190.
The New Balance 1080v13 is a close competitor for silhouette, as it looks similar from the outside with a thick, rounded midsole. But they give a much different feel: The 1080v13 use an EVA-based foam which is much softer than the PWRRUN. That said, they are also incredibly light and have a bouncy feel to them for versatility. The midsole is slightly less durable, but overall they should wear about the same. And there’s only a $5 difference between the two. Here, it comes down to whether you prefer a firmer or softer foam feel.
How the 22 Compares to Past Models
Previous models of the Triumph have been my go-to running shoe for the last couple years. I trained for and ran the Boston Marathon in a pair of Triumph 20. I loved their ideal balance of a high cushion and responsive feel, and they held up to higher mileage better than any shoe I had run in before.
When the 21 came out, there wasn’t much of a design change besides the upper, which got more breathable and overall more comfortable.
The biggest change with the 22 is in the midsole. It has both a higher stack height and, coincidentally, a softer, plusher feel. Some runners have said this made the shoe much less versatile. In my opinion, the 22 is a bit bulkier than past models. But it’s still very springy and responsive, so it doesn’t feel like you’re squishing down during speed work or sprints.
The benefit of this midsole change is that it also widened both the wearable toe box as well as the overall width of the shoe. This gives both the foot more room to spread as well as providing a larger surface for more stability.
The 22 upper also has a new structured knit design, which makes the shoe feel sturdier. It also seems more durable than the previous mesh and will, I think, hold up better over time, especially if you are someone that quickly wears through the toe of your shoe.
What Other Runners Think
The response to this shoe from the running community has been somewhat mixed. But it has received many positive reviews.
The general complaint on negative reviews is that the shoe got a bit softer and a bit bulkier. Runners say the 22 has less bounce than previous models and feels slower.
On the flip side, other reviewers say the Triumph 22 has “wonderful cushioning” that “hugs in all the right places.”
So this really comes down to preference rather than a fault of the shoe.
Price and Value
Any high-cushion shoe is going to sit around $150-$170. So at $160, the Saucony Triumph 22 is pretty well priced.
While that may seem like a lot of money, high-cushion shoes always cost more simply because they use more material.
I think the Triumph 22 is particularly worth the cost because the midsole foam is so durable. It can take a lot to scuff, crack, and compress it, but it also retains its bouncy, cushiony feel far longer than most foams I have run in.
Since the foam is both cushioned and quite responsive, it is great for a range of training runs. It’s also an excellent choice for anyone looking for one do-it-all running shoe.
The tread could be better and may cause some runners to retire the shoe before the midsole is dead. However, tread-wear really varies from runner to runner. If you are someone who runs mostly indoors and doesn’t drag your feet, you may not find that your tread wears much at all.
Final Word: Should You Buy the Saucony Triumph 22?
If you are looking for a versatile, high-cushion training shoe, the Saucony Triumph 22 is one of the best running shoes you can buy, in my opinion.
Not only is it comfortable and durable, but the midsole foam gives you a springy, bouncy feel that will help you stride through speedwork when training to run faster, and power through the ends of your long runs.
Although this model gained some bulk compared to its predecessor, it’s still a fantastic training shoe that could easily find its place in most runner’s closets.
